PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 141 



'i 



is that each package shall be stamped in pounds and ounces its capacity, 

 so many cubic inches for a pound. 



Yesterday, in talking with one of the manufacturers here, he claimed 

 that the rule was not correct. If they followed out the rule, the eight- 

 pound basket of today would have to be marked ten pounds. I don't 

 know whether that is correct or not. However, even if it was true, it 

 would make no great ditference. If it is true, it is easily mended. 



The idea that the package manufacturers are coming before the people 

 and saying that thej are going to disregard that law, which was enacted 

 at the suggestion of the horticulturists of this state — for these basket 

 manufacturers to say to the people, ''That law it not good and we will 

 sell you our baskets without the mark", it seems to me that they are 

 assuming a great many more functions than they rightfully have. If they 

 are not satisfied with the law, let them take it to the supreme court and 

 make a test case of it. I believe' in enforcement of that law, and I 

 believe that we will have uniformity of packages when it is enforced. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. S. H. Comings : The last remarks of the gentleman are a little sug- 

 gestive. There are some people who defy the law who are called anarch- 

 ists. There are other people who break the law continually, and we call 

 them by a more respectable name. I have an idea that corporations 

 which defy the law are the most dangerous anarchists we have. I have 

 talked and thought a good deal about this package law. There is one 

 law which should bring about a reform, and that is the law of profit. I 

 have traveled a little in the northern part of this country and have always 

 become acquainted with the fruit commission men, and everywhere I 

 have gone Michigan fruit is at a discount. It is as true as you live. Michi- 

 gan apples and Michigan fruit are at a discount, as compared with other 

 fruit. It is caused in some cases by careless packing, but in a good many 

 cases by dishonest packing; in some cases from a thoughtless use of 

 "snide" packages, and in many cases the determiued use of them. There 

 are two influences pulling us toward these ''snide" packages. One is 

 that the manufacturers sell more packages, when they contain less, and 

 the transportation companies, if the package is twenty-five per cent, 

 smaller, get twenty-five per cent, more for carrying the fruit. So, with 

 the price of our fruit growing less and less each year, we are putting a 

 larger percentage of money into the package. Ordinarily, when goods 

 grow cheap they are put into larger packages, to save cost of pack- 

 ing and freight. Our own interests should lead us to maintain this 

 law, and induce us to adopt larger packages; and for the sake of 

 maintaining our reputation in other markets, we should have uniformity. 

 New York and Ohio fruit will bring more, just on their reputation. They 

 say the packing is guaranteed by an association, and the people have a 

 reputation for putting up uniform packages. 



Mr. Keid: One objection to this package marking is that it con- 

 templates that the package shall hold ten pounds, level full, while if 

 filled up to the extension top it would hold more than that. But that 



